Flexing disk fruit stemming mechanism and conveyer therefor



Feb. 6, 1951 Filed NOV. 6, 1946 W. W. KELLY FLEXING DISK FRUIT STEMMING MECHANISM AND CONVEYER THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER IY. KELLY ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1951 w. W. KELLY FLEXING DISK FRUIT STEMMING MECHANISM AND CONVEYER THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 6, 1946 an JN.

m Ilm-HGH INVENTOR bn. Mb

WALTER #KELLY BYGD2- i Lgf :ATTORINEYS 0 4 7, 0 4 5, 2 M S I N A H C E MR O my YI LW W L H EET KS R E www U .Rw WFO C K um DA G N I X E L F Feb. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 6, 1946 .l o m. QW'IWIK wim, l

INVENTOR WALTER w. KELLY ly 4 7W Patented Feb. 6, 1951 FLEXING DISK FRUIT STEMMING M'ECHA- NISM AND CONVEYER THEREFOR Walter W. Kelly, Portland, Oreg., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1946, Serial No. 708,000

14 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to automatic fruit stemming machines and contemplates to simplify the stem plucking mechanism thereof andto improve its reliability of operation.

Known fruit stemming machines of simple construction employ usually two axially abutting rollers or drums disposed closely adjacent to a fruit conveyor with their axes parallel to the direction of conveyance. When these rollers revolve inversely, the fruit stems projecting from the. conveyor line are gripped and plucked while the fruit is retained on the conveyor by suitable mechanical means such as slotted guide shields. However, since rollers arranged as described have only a lineal Contact, their grip may at times be insuicient to pluck the stems, especially should they be thin; also since this lineal contact is removed from the fruit passing underneath, by a distance at least as great as the radius of the rollers employed, short or tilted stems may pass the plucking mechanism without being gripped at all.

vImproved machines of more complex construction,V therefore, employ running belts instead of simple rollers, guide means being provided to force the cooperating belts into parallel gripping yrelation over a certain portion of their travel.

While such arrangements provide larger gripping areas for the fruit stems and may be made to extend closei to the fruit itself, each such plucking belt requires a plurality of pulleys and frequently a number of guide means of critical adjustment, all of which render the resultant mechanisms costly and complex in construction and subject to failures depending on the adjustment of the guide means. y

Broadly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stem plucking mechanism for machines of the type referred to, which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to furnish a stem plucking mechanism which provides a large and rmly gripping contact area.

Another object of the present invention is to so arrange a stem plucking mechanism of the abutting-disc-type as to provide a rmly gripping contact area that reaches within close proximity of the fruit to be stemmed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide automatically effective means in machines oi the type here under consideration, to reliably retain the fruit in its proper position during the stemming operation and until completion thereof,

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fruit stemming machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the machine taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the machine taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism adapted to retain the fruit on the conveyor during the` stemming operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine illustrated in the drawings includes a stationary frame I0 and an endless conveyor belt I I of the sprocket chain type trained around sprocket wheels not shown. The conveyor chain II comprises an upper horizontally disposed reach or section I2 and a lower reach or section I3. The chain I I is formed by a plurality of links I4 and each alternate link of the conveyor chain carries a fruit supporting cup I 6 having a central depression to seat a cherry or like fruit. One of the sprocket wheels of the conveyor II is driven so as to effect travel of the upper reach I2 in the direction of arrow Il (Fig. l). i

The cherries to be handled by the machine are placed stem end up into the cups I6 either manually or by an automatic positioning and feeding device of any desired construction.

As the fruit supporting cups I6 travel along the upper horizontal reach I2 of the conveyor line II toward stem plucking unit 10, fruit-retaining means 3i) are gradually brought into position to hold the cherries down in `cups I6 while their stems are being plucked. For this purpose an auxiliary conveyor line 3l of the sprocket chain type is provided, which is arranged conce'ntrically within main conveyor line II around sprockets 92 keyed upon drive shaft 25 and idler sprockets 93, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each alternate link of auxiliary conveyor line 3l carries a U-shaped bracket 32, as shown in Fig. 5, and swivelled to each such bracket are two symmetrically arranged l-shaped arms 36 and 37 (Figs. 3 and 4) by means of two parallel pivot studs 34. and 35, respectively, which pass through the horizontal bars of the L-shaped arms, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and are suitably supported in the upright shanks of bracket 32. Spacer beads may be provided around pivots 3,4

and is trained.

plucking unit 10, claws 38 and 39 of retaining units will close over them in a manner hereinbefore explained. In this connection, it is essential for proper operation of the mechanisms described, that the movements of main conveyor line ll and auxiliary conveyor line 3| are very accurately synchronised so that in passing through camway 41, 48, each retaining unit 30 will be. properly aligned with a corresponding fruit supporting cup I6. Thelocation of plucking unit`10 relative to conveyor lines Il and 3l is such "that by the time a cup I 6 slides underneath the diverging portions of roller discs 1l and 12, claws 38 and 39 will have closed over the cherry seated therein and will straighten its stem into upright position, if such should not have been done properly at the time the cherry was placed into the cup. As soon as the cherry stem reaches the vertex of the acute angle formed by the diverging portions of roller discs 1| and 12, a firmly gripping contact area of a depth almost equal to the diameter of the discs will seize the stem and pull it obliquely upwards in the direction of conveyance, while claws 38 and 39 will force the cherry to proceed along a horizontal plane and, consequently, the stem is pulled, relatively speaking, in a direction substantially coincident with the stem blossom axis of the fruit and the stem and cherry thereby gently pulled apart. In this connection, very satisfactory results have been obtained by so proportioning the movements involved that the rate of advancement of conveyor line Il is faster than the circumferential speed of discs 1|, 12. As may best be seen from Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the plucking roller arrangement in accordance with my invention is such that the contact or gripping area of the rollersinay be made to reach within close proximity of the fruit, so that even very short stems will be gripped and plucked, while the fruit itself is protected by claws 38 and 39 against any possible injury from rotating discs 1l, 12.

While in explaining the nature and performance of the stern plucking unit in accordance with my invention, I have disclosed a particularly advantageous retaining mechanism to maintain the fruit on the conveyor during the plucking operation, it will be understood that many other retaining means may be successfully employed in carrying out my invention, such as slotted cover shields disposed between the fruit conveyor and the plucking mechanism.

Having thus described my invention and the manner inwhich it is to be used, what I claim is: l. In a conveyor line carrying a sequence of supports adapted to seatV cherries and like fruit, the arrangement for positively retaining said fruit on said supports over a predetermined section of said line while permitting the stems thereof to extend in upward direction; which includes a second conveyor line having a reach coextensive with but below said first conveyor line at said predetermined section thereof, arms pivoted on said second conveyor to swing laterally away therefrom into outwardly inclined positions, an inwardly directed retaining member mounted on ytop of each of said arms and having a notched inner edge for centering the stem of a fruit seated in a support on said rst conveyor line, guide means coextensive with a section of said conveyor line and adapted to cam said arms inwardly into upright positions wherein said retaining members extend above said supports of said rst conveyor line.

2; In a conveyor line carrying a sequence off` supports adapted to seat fruit, the arrangement` for positively retaining fruit on said supports over a limited section of said line, which includesy an endless chain carrying a plurality of fruit retaining units each comprising two arms pivoted.` to said endless chain and adapted to registerV with said supports at said limited section of said line and to swing outwardly away from one another, inwardly directed retaining members mounted on top of said arms, and guide means flanking a section oi' said line at either side thereof and adapted to cam said arms inwardly. into positions wherein ,said retaining :members close above said supports.

3. In a conveyor line carrying a sequence ofycups and adapted to deliver cherries and like fruit to a stemming mechanism, the :arrange-` ment for positively retaining said fruit on said` cups during the stemming operation while causing the stems of said fruit to extend in substantially upright direction, Awhich includes' an endless conveyor having one reach thereof disposed below the conveyor line, a plurality of fruit retaining units on said endless conveyor each adapted to register with a fruit cup in the conveyor line, each said fruit retaining unit comprising,v two arms pivoted underneath said:

cups at either sides thereof to swing laterallyv away therefrom into outwardly inclined positions, inwardly directed retaining members mounted on top of said arms so as to swing above the cup in said conveyor line and having V- shaped notches in their confronting edges for embracing the stem of a fruit in said cup, and guide means flanking a section of said conveyor line at either side thereof, said guide means having an initial converging phase adapted to cam said arms inwardly into positions wherein said retaining members slide above one another, a central parallel portion adapted to retain said arms and said members in the described positions during the stemming operation, and a iinal' diverging portion adapted to permit said arms to return to their outwardly inclined positions as they pass out of and into registration with the cup-s of said conveyor line.

4. Arrangement, according to claim 3, includ-` ing guide rollers pivoted to the outside edges of said arms for cooperation with said guide means..

5. Conveyor arrangement for delivering fruit: to and away from a stemming mechanism, in-` cluding a main conveyor line of the endless belt: type, having a sequence of fruit supporting cupsf mounted thereon; and auxiliary conveyor line ofi the endless belt type disposed within said main conveyor' line and having a sequence of brackets mounted thereon, two lateral arms pivoted to each of said brackets to swing outwardly apart from one another, inwardly directed retaining members mounted on top of said arms having V-shaped notches provided in `their confronting edges, said conveyor lines having horizontal sections arranged to extend parallel and closely adjacent to one another, said conveyor' lines being synchronisedhto align each bracket of said auxiliary conveyor line precisely underneath a cup travelling on said main conveyor line for the duration of their parallel travel; and camming walls flanking said parallel branches and adapted to cam said arms inwardly into positions wherein said retaining members close above said cups.

6. Arrangement, according to claim 5 including guide means arranged to keep said argus 7i apart; during their1retur-nstravel4 from the ,egress unpaid: camming: walls,v to: thai-entrance thereof 7.1:; @stemming mechanismrior. cherries and like k fruit; comprising ampairfoftdiscs :of` .exible Vmaterialmountedl for rotational.,movementA in di.-` Yerging planespfz rotation-,. Awhich planes Vintersect: within, the peripheries off both of' said; discs,

the-:portions ofjsaidjdi'scs radially beyond the lineaofs intersectiongof; said-` planesf being; bent by mutual engagementintof,parallel. abutting relation: iwith; eachother; afiruit; conveyor mounted topresent the stem; portions, of `fruit to arr open endet said` abutting disc portionsffto begripped therebetween. apsecond. conveyor having; .a. portion of itspath of travelzconcident with andadjacent: to said.;fruit conveyor and; moving in synchronism therewith; said, secondv conveyor, carryingfru-it retaining means, andl means to interposeesaid retaining, meansbetween; the fruit and theaabuttingv disc portions to retain the: fruit againstthe pulling tierce imposedon, thee-grippedV stemiportions byrotationof said discsfto separate the fruit and the stem portions.

8. Stemming mechanism for cherries and: like fruit: comprising` a pair, of-v discs of flexible material; mountedfor, rotational movement indivergingL planes of4 rotatiom which` planes intersect withinzthe:peripheries-,of both of saiddiscs, the` portions ofV said discsl radially beyond the line of. intersection of fsaid planes being bent. by mur tual; engagement into parallel, abutting relation Wth;-each` other; ai fruit conveyor mounted to present the stem portions-offruit to an open. end of: said abutting disc; portions to,` bek gripped therebetween;y a' second .conveyor having a portion-,of-` its path of travelparalleland adjacent to. saidfruit` conveyorY and;,traveling in. synclnoe nisn-i therewith; saidV second.- conveyorY carrying fruit retaining means,` and means to interpose saidV retainingfmeans between; the fruit andthe abuttingy disc por-,tionsV to retain theiruit, against the: pulling force imposed on the `gripped stem portionsby rotation of said. discs tov-separata the fruit and the stemportionsg', andv drivey means operatively connected to said conveyor and tof one; of saidA discs;l

9. Stemming mechanismA fer Icherries. andr like. fruitincludinga rst shaft, a rst disc mounted thereon for rotation in afirst plane, a second shaft angularly disposed, to said rst shaft; a second discoieXible materialrnounted on said second shaft for rotationY in ,a secondplane di-` verging fromsaid first plane, means-.for holding said second discvatsuch close range to said iirst disc that a substantial. marginal .portionofthe1 second disc is deiormedinto parallelabutting re.

Ylationshipi withV corresponding area of said rst disc so aswto-have frictional, driving,v engagement therewith, means-fior. driving one: ofA said discs, ya conveyor foi-.presenting the stem, portions o1 fruit between` the abutting: portions. of said discs to begrippedthereby, and a second conveyor having a portion of: its path. or travel. coincident with and adjacent to saidz nrst con-- veyor and moving in;synchronismftherewith, said. second conveyor/carrying fruitholding means; and means to Y' interpose. said holding vmeans be tween the fruitoncsaid rst conveyor and-,the` abutting stem gripping portions of said discs toV move the fruit relatively, to thefr stemportions. thus gripped toseparate the fr-uit'andl the steinportion.l

10. Stemming mechanism for. cherries andlike fruit, including a first` shaft,I anrst disc of Iii) 8 iri;:.'a';.1irstplane1 means for` drivngisaid first disc, ai second shaft, disposed L ingthe; same planer asithe:

other for driving said. second disc in unison-,with

said'irst'rdisc, conveyor means forYpresentinggzastem portion of` a fruit between the abuttinggdiscz; portions tobe grippedv thereby, vasecond corr,-Y`

veyor havinga portion of its path of travelrcoincident with and adjacent to said conveyorsmeansfl and traveling in synchronism.'therewith said?- second Vconveyor carrying fruit holdingA means.:

thereon;v andV means .to interpose said. holding-ff meansl between the fruit and said discsv forfholdff ing the fruit againstr movementwithv the stemt; thusrgripped to separate the Vfruit andy theystemz.. ll. Stemming mechanism for cherries and;

like fruit` including a conveyor linexfor moving;-`

cherries in` single iile along a predetermined: path, aA pair of discs oi flexible material mounted.

adjacentsaidY line.V for rotation` ini diverging., panes, said discs being positioned sor closelyV relative to one another that substantial. mare ginal portions thereof-aredeformedinto parallel abutting relationship sothat said abutting portionsm'eet. at a point whichis substantially"tant-y gentialiof` the path of thestems of cherries can-- ried. by said vconveyor line; whereby'the cherry.; stems enter between said abutting jpf'irtionsfA and'.v

are drawn thereby substantially perpendicular with respect to said predeterminedv path', and;v substantially coincident withi` the stent axes-5, cfs. the'cherries as they aremoved-ialong'said path;

a second conveyor having a portion of. its; path.'

of. travel coincident with and adjacenttozsaid: fruit conveyor liney and traveling in synchronismi` therewith, said'second conveyor carrying fruit? retainingmeans, and means to-interpose saldretainingmeans betweenY the conveyed cherries.`

and said discs for retaining said cherries'in` their path; of.' travel against the perpendicular draw--A` ingiorcethus exerted on their stems.

12.y Stemming, mechanism for cherriesV and.: likefruit, including a conveyor line for carrying;`

cherries along a predetermined path, a pair of discs of flexible materiall mounted adjacent' said. line for rotation in different divergingA planes;

riving means or driving said conveyor line-and rotatingsad discs,I said discs being-:arranged tol face the oncoming sectionof said conveyorv line with their open ends, means holdingsaidy discsA at such close range relative to one another that" substantially similar peripheral por-tions thereof'A contact and deform. one another into parallel' abuttingl relationship-` so as to grip the. cher-ry stems entering thek open ends of said discs-*foreffecting a movement of said stems transversely toE said predetermined path and substantially; coin cident withthe stem axes of said.cherries, a sec ond conveyor having a portion of its path. ofY travel parallel and adjacent to said fruit con-Y veyor line and moving. in synchronism tllerewith,y saidsecond. conveyor carrying fruitY holding Yincr-na and means for projectingv said holding means between the conveyed cherries andsaiddiscs. to hold the cherries against-movement,- with saidl stems toseparate the cherries.V andtheir stems.

11ex-ib1efmaterial mounted.thereonf'forfrotation: 75 13. Mechanism accordingftoclaimm wherein,

said discs are arranged to rotate with the peripheral portions thereof adjacent said conveyor moving in the same general direction as the movement of said conveyor line and at a circumferential velocity to effect a substantially perpendicular pull upon the stems of the cherries entering between said segments with respect to said predetermined path of the cherries on said conveyor. Y

14. A stemming mechanism for cherries and like fruit including a conveyor line for carrying cherries along a predetermined path, a pair of discs of iiexible material mounted adjacent said line for rotation in different vertically diverging planes, said discs being arranged to face the advancing section of said line with their open ends, means for rotating said discs in a direction in which their peripheral portions nearest the conveyor line travel in the same general direction as the direction of movement of said line, means for holding said discs at such close range relative to one another that substantial marginal portions thereof contact each other to deform one another into parallel abutting relationship so as to grip the stems of cherries moving along said predetermined path for eiecting a relatively axial movement of said stems with respectY REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 371,493 Dolan Oct. 11, 1887 1,409,804 Urschel Mar. 14, 1922 1,668,427 Sephton May 1, 1928 1,866,605 Stewart July 12, 1932 2,260,855 Kittrdge Oct.` 28, 1941 2,360,412 Frova Oct. 17, 1944 2,375,350 Coons May 8, 1945 

